One With Heart

OWH has great facilities, and the community includes a lot of wonderful people, and a nice diversity of students and instructors. On the whole, I really enjoyed my first year there. However, as I graduated from the beginner classes and saw more of what was ahead, I couldn’t bring myself to continue.
Memberships are among the most expensive I’ve seen in Portland. You can get a lot of value for that, if you’re able to attend lots of classes and make use of the facilities. However, there is little consideration for people wanting fewer classes or unable to afford the high price. There is also a lot of pressure to sign up for extras: special classes with top instructors, weekend retreats, etc. We were reminded about these at the end of every class — right before we cleaned the studio. I’m in favor of taking care of your space, but they pushed it further than I thought appropriate, cajoling students to come in outside of classes to clean the school for testing days or any other event. We were also pressured to go out canvassing for them, delivering flyers door-​to-​door in uniform.
The real problem I had, and which another reviewer pointed out, was the cultish, mystic side of the school. This really kicks in after the beginner level and at the extra events. Shortly after I advanced, I decided to splurge (~$ 600) on a weekend intensive featuring the living head of the art, to find out if I should keep going. The best I can say of this is that it saved me the money of signing up for another year. This top guru showed us how she could knock down her blackbelt students with her mind — no contact — and it was thoroughly frightening to watch everyone else lap that up. We were then given a demonstration of how a child focusing his kung-​fu magic could root himself to the ground so that two large men couldn’t lift him. This demo failed completely, and the guru made some excuses and moved on. Later we were given special training in the piercing aspect of the crane, where we would focus our chi on helping our opponents to do what they were going to do anyways, which was supposed to be «fall down.» I didn’t believe enough to make this work, I guess, and another student and I just stood there staring at each other. Everyone else seemed to be loving it, including my instructors, who had been telling me for weeks how great this would be, and how it would really level up my training. Seeing that as the future of continued membership, I quit immediately.
If you can afford the membership and take advantage of the class schedule, you’ll likely have fun, get good exercise, and meet nice people. Learning the basic forms and defense moves is a satisfying accomplishment, though the confidence you gain is probably the best of the self-​defense. If you like things like «energy work» and seances, you might enjoy the rest too.

I’ve been a student at this school for over five years. My initial experience with the school was very good. The atmosphere was a welcoming one, and the desk staff was very warm, friendly and knowledgeable. Coming from a background in other martial arts, I expected to find the same grandiose attitudes here that I’d found at other schools, from other practitioners. I was wrong. The practitioners here instruct adults and adolescent with patience, putting aside the ego. The instructors also take very good care of the students, making it a safe environment for all to train. The head instructor along with the other instructor have a love of the art, and love sharing their knowledge thereby making the art fun to learn for all age. I’m very happy my journey brought me here.

I love this place! My kids started before me. They had instructors who knew them and supported their learning with respect and kindness. They got time to play and they were asked to work at learning this beautiful martial art.
When I started training in the adult program, I weighed almost 200lbs (I blame the children for all that baby fat) I didn’t think I would last very long because I had never succeeded at any athletic endeavor ever. I had spent so much money on gym memberships that I never used. This looked like so much fun, and there were other people that looked like me starting out too, so I jumped in.
Now I weigh 145lbs and I am 45 years old and I am in the best shape of my life. What I did not consider when I began, was the possibility that the fear I had felt my whole life about being a vulnerable weak woman walking through the world might ever go away. Now it has. I have a good solid understanding of self defense and so do my children. My daughters won’t ever carry that fear.
The instructors are wonderful, the classes are fun and you develop flexibility and strength through movement with a purpose.

I am enrolled in the Crossfit Elements class. It is exactly what I needed: a friendly group, a knowledgable and helpful instructor, workouts that are super challenging but which can be scaled to my needs, and a growing and invested facility.
Learning to do the moves in Crossfit properly isn’t easy, and the Crossfit Elements class has helped me practice, get strong, and also given me confidence. Mike has been a really great instructor.
The facility here is growing– they’re putting in new floors for Crossfit this week as well as getting other gear. They also have air-​conditioning, which means no 110 degree gym on those days when it gets hot here in Portland! Everyone at One With Heart is super friendly and welcoming, and I can’t recommend it enough.

I love working out at One With Heart. I’m enrolled in classes for the martial art (Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen) and CrossFit. Both are great for getting in shape and building strength and confidence. The CrossFit program at this gym is fantastic– the class size is just right and the instructors are so personable and down-​to-​earth. Tyrone safely pushes each student to work their hardest and it’s amazing how quickly I’ve seen results. If you’re looking for a place to workout, this is as good as it gets. I really like how welcoming, both male & female-​friendly, and comfortable One With Heart is.

My 12-​year old son has been going to the after school program here for 2 years. The people that work and teach here are wonderful! Most importantly, one with heart has taught my son so many things about being a better person as he grows up. For him to NOT complain about coming here is an accomplishment alone. I strongly recommend anyone who has kids and that is interested in putting them into a martial arts program to give this place a try.

My son started here just taking the summer camps. He loved it so much that we signed him up for a full year. It has been great for his self esteem and his ability to concentrate. The staff are wonderful and very caring. They take the time to get to know the children and help each one with their needs.

After a month-​long trial in Nov. 2010, I was hooked! Signed on for the year. I don’t have any other martial arts experience to compare it with, but I sense this place is top-​notch.
One With Heart has a great community vibe. I’m doing the basic kung-​fu program, which is two 1.5 hour classes per week. It’s a SUPER great workout – you will sweat, and cogitate, intensely – tailored to your fitness level, building upon prior classes, and those 1.5 hours are packed with full engagement with the instructors and your fellow students. Everyone is positive, encouraging, and there to learn.
The depth of knowledge is impressive. Maybe this is true with most martial arts, but the wealth of experience possessed by the teachers, instructors and the Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen system overall at OWH is amazing – and intriguing! I’ve just begun, but it’s clear that training will continue to be unique, interesting, and challenging.

My daughter absolutely loves the Transported After School Program (TASP). They drive vans to the elementary schools, pick up the kids, bring them back for a kung-​fu lesson, some time for homework and some time for play. I can pick her up anytime between 5:15 and 6:00.
These people are great with kids, there are lots of women on staff, my daughter’s self confidence is soaring, it’s just wonderful. And hey, how many times do you get to tell the grandparents that the kid is practicing eye-​gouges?

Looking for something different I joined OWH-​TC this summer. I really enjoyed the evening fitness classes. The classes combine martial arts and general fitness into four 30 minute classes Mon through Thurs. that run back to back to back to back. You can start at any point and end at any point in the 30 minute chunks. You get addicted to it and you leave with a good sweat. Unfortunately for me the classes are made up mostly of women, so being able to actually punch or kick anything beyond a tap was pretty much not going to happen. The people here are really friendly and for the ladies out there — you may just want to look at this as a great alternative to anything else. It’s not intimidating at all and the one male instructor John prides himself on just being a big goofball, he’s quite the character. The other instructors are great too.
As for the guys — it’s up to you, but unless there is a fall rush of testosterone, don’t expect a bunch of other guys to kick the bags with.